yellow blossoms

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in a time of the happy yellow mimosa, i take a walk in the park feeling joyful.

even though the crisis is not over yet,

i’ve been deeply moved and inspired by the fact that the world is continuing to come together.

i feel so wonderful to see the world as one.

i can never thank you enough for your genuine ongoing aid to my country!

meanwhile, my neighbourhood cherry blossom festival has been canceled.

it does happen to anybody in japan at the moment.

voluntarily, the whole nation has got into the anti-celebrating mood.

we have refrained from anything rollicking at all.

considering the victims and the situation, we should stick to it, of course.

but, the thing is,
when will be the right time for us to stop that?

nobody knows it or dares to tell it.

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the saffron revolution

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like my last few novembers,

i was supposed to rejoice at a little harvest of homegrown saffron

from my mother's balcony.

she missed the timing to plant saffron bulbs in september.

so, we have no saffron harvest this november.
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still, like any other november,

leaves have turned gold and red.

they have plenty of different shades of saffron.

i am absolutely charmed by every single falling leaf.

do you remember the saffron revolution, by the way?

nothing really has changed for those burmese monks and people, though.

but, growing saffron instead of, yes, poppies in afghanistan seems to pick up,

which is indeed good news, don't you think?

i hope this will make a true saffron revolution happen over there.

enjoy the gorgeous season before getting busy, everyone!

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learning from a lotus

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i’m kind of feeling low at the moment.

tt is something i, and even good people, sometimes and inevitably experience.

it feels like everything sucks.

the fate will never smile on me?

but, that’s not true.

could i pass this melancholic spell by living like an oriental lotus in the park?

focusing an image,

being receptive enough,

without losing grace and dignity,

and standing still whatever happens for some time to come…

it’s almost 禅 zen, isn’t it?

at any rate, i will enjoy life. and the weekend.

so will you, my dear friends!

bluebell report 2010 (belated)

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as usual, when i was browsing online newspapers on saturday,
i came across one familiar picture among the guardian’s slideshows.
it turned out to be my picture!
i completely forgot that i’d casually submitted the picture to

“your picture of bluebells” a little while a go.

didn’t i deserve a kind email telling me of the publication from the guardian?

i cannot complain about being chosen for that, anyway.

bluebell is such a magical flower.
i had a certain fondness for this flower when i lived in London.
and i look forward to finding online newspaper articles
about bluebells like this and that every year.

meanwhile, when i first saw them blooming in my local park,
i was overjoyed.
so, i happily posted my bluebell report last year.

but, they bloom in april over here, a month earlier than in england.
i’ve missed out on an opportunity to post this season’s pictures until now.

this is my belated bluebell report.
i hope you enjoy at least the residuum of the blue magic.

have a great week!
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pink and red season is over

we are experiencing unexpected chilly spring days this year.
and, it has prolonged the life of 桜 (sakura: cherry blossoms)
and 椿 (tsubaki: camellia)s’ as well.
however, it is time for us to see them go.


while taking a long work the other day,
this scene reminded me of some artwork created by naturalist-artists,
like andy goldsworthy?

actually, i can’t be wrong.
i should look at this the other way round.
their artwork resembles and reminds us of the serendipitous beauty of nature.

anyway, spring seems to stay a little bit longer than usual,
which is pretty good.

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s for...

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s for spring:
did you have a great spring break?

spring is the time for new beginnings, isn’t it?

especially for the japanese, as schools start in april, spring is so special.

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s for sakura:
more importantly, viewing (and many do have a picnic party under the trees)

桜, さくら, サクラ, sakura, cherry blossoms,
is not-to-be-missed… we can’t get things started without, actually.

every kind of spring flowers is also springing into bloom everywhere. mimosa reminds me of paris, while daffodils make me miss london. what a beautiful world! meanwhile, my book translation project is nearly coming to an end (it will come out next month). i almost indulge in liberty now. i truly madly deeply love finding spring colours.

who’s living up there?

carry on enjoying the spring sun.

xxx

thanx for your lovely comments, girls!!

momiji exclusive

time flies, indeed. we have only one month to go before the new year, which is our biggest family event of year (christmas for you from christian countries?). in any case, everyone will be compelled to feel pressed more and more towards the year end.

but, we should relax and take it easy. there’s no use in hustling or worrying too much? take a walk? it’s beautiful outside. i’ve been actually carried away with vibrantly-coloured 紅葉 momiji (japanese maple), the queen of autumn foliage, for a while.

so here. at the end of 霜月 shimotsuki (old name of november) i want to share these autumn colours with you and make my post “紅葉づくし momiji–zukushi (exclusive)” to mark this year’s season, which is nearly over. no words are needed, perhaps?

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have a lovely week!

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an anniversary

time flies. today is the 4th anniversary of my "home sweet home." i settled in this run-the-mill suburbia of osaka where my mother lived alone some five years back. i at first didn't know if i could survive the monotonousness when i started living in my mother's home. i now think my present life is not that bad. since i moved in this flat, located in the same town, my mother and i have managed to keep a comfortable distance from each other. i can't complain, or rather, i should be content having my own commodious living space. besides, a huge park lies adjacent to my flat's premises, which is a major factor behind my so-so happiness. i walk there and come home with some wild flowers.

wild flowers? well, in short, they are weeds. but i like them. if you look at weeds closer, you'll see they all have sweet little flowers. and, ones i often pick are white because they go well with my home surroundings. in terms of style, by the way, i'm not really keen on the mid-century. some chairs are just plain elegant, though. for my home, i'd avoid graphic patterns and designs; usually give up quirky or funky stuff no matter how much i get inspired. i've always loved white interiors with classic kind of feel, plus a rustic flavour. although i need to compromise on so many conditions, i try not to lose much of my daintiness.

while my home is far from my dream house, i can be happy as long as there are some white flowers on my bedside table or the chest of drawers as well as plenty of natural sunlight getting into my flat. today is, however, cloudy and turning chilly. believe me, i'd gone walking outside in a half-sleeved tee until yesterday. it is time to put on slippers? oh, i've got favourite ones i bought in ho chi minh city. now that it's november already. time flies, indeed. meanwhile, my new "white project" is making progress, but i don't reckon this quilt will be able to adorn my bedroom wall before the new year arrives. anyway, life goes on.

have a great week, my dear friends!
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waxing gibbous moon + last goodbye to the summer visitors

our japanese custom of autumn moon-viewing came from ancient china as i posted on october 3rd. and, i've just learned, for the ancient japanese, the annual moon-viewing must take place for not only the full moon but also the waxing gibbous moon, which was believed to be the second most beautiful moon. i've found that it falls tonight. luckily, the sky looks clear enough.

meanwhile, the temperature rose as high as 24 degrees c yesterday. the indian summer seems to stay on for one more day or two. obviously, this warm weather, due to the global warming, has prolonged my local butterfly season so that i can see tiny butterflies like pale grass blues in the park. as long as a butterfly is seen the season is summer to me.

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however, according to the recent weather forecast, we will eventually need to prepare for chilly mornings. no wonder, october is ending! it must be the time i to bid last goodbye to the summer visitors in the park. so here, i wanted to show you who i ran into there this season. plus, the last night's moon.

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oh, are you going to a halloween party tomorrow night?

happy halloween!

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